This year’s Halloween episode included a rare instance of Craig awarding a routine with the highest individual score from the judging panel.  Here we look back at the eight routines that saw a ‘rebellious’ Craig subvert our expectations.

Aled Jones & Lilia

• When: Series 2, Week 4 (2004)
• Score: Foxtrot (25 points, 7,6,6,6)
• Dancing to: ‘T’Ain’t What You Do’ by Cleo Laine

Singer and TV presenter Aled, dancing with Lilia, had performed very well in the early part of the competition, finishing in the top three of the leaderboard each week. Things took a turn for the worse with the week four Foxtrot, with Arlene calling the performance ‘rather wooden’, and Len both criticising the footwork and saying that Aled ‘forgot to trot’.

Bruce appears visibly shocked when Craig said ‘I must be the only one who really liked it’; with Bruno going on to quip that ‘it must be a full moon!’

Claire King & Brendan

• When: Series 4, Week 2 (2006)
• Score: Rumba (21 points, 7,4,4,6)
• Dancing to: ‘Show Me Heaven’ by Maria McKee

With only the male celebrities performing in week one, TV actress Claire had to wait until the following week to receive her first set of scores from the judging panel.

It’s a real shame that this routine has been removed from YouTube, as it included an ‘illegal’ lift (which would explain the low marks from Arlene & Len), and in the judges feedback Len went on to slam the move calling Brendan a ‘prawn head’ and a ‘doughnut’. Despite going on to receive a high score, Brendan also argued with Craig over his harsh judging of the performance, saying ‘Come on Craig, it’s an entertainment programme not the world championships’.

In place of the routine, here is Claire & Brendan’s defiant appearance on BBC Breakfast which took place two week later.

Gabby Logan & James

• When: Series 5, Week 2 (2007)
• Score: Quickstep (29 points, 8,7,7,7)
• Dancing to: ‘Things’ by Bobby Darin

With the same format maintained for Series 5, it would be Week 2 before we saw the first scoring routine for TV presenter Gabby, who danced with James.

Arlene felt the routine ‘wasn’t quite as light as it could have been’, and after James responded to some criticism, Len renamed the duo ‘Gabby and Gobby’!

Craig however, felt it was ‘absolutely fantastic’, and praised Gabby for her confidence out of hold.

Lisa Riley & Robin

• When: Series 10, Week 2 (2012)
• Score: Viennese Waltz (25 points, 7,6,6,6)
• Dancing to: ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ by Paloma Faith

It would be another five years before Craig would return as the highest scoring judge, and on this occasion the recipient was TV actress Lisa, who was partnered with Robin.

This Quickstep closed the show, and Darcey felt Lisa was trying a bit too hard. Bruno appreciated the entertainment but felt Lisa was being a bit too dominant in the partnership. Craig though, thought she performed the dance with a great dexterity and lightness, and awarded the routine with a score of seven.

Mark Wright & Karen

• When: Series 12, Week 12 (2014)
• Score: Rumba (33 points, 9,8,8,8)
• Dancing to: ‘Fields Of Gold’ by Eva Cassidy

Reality TV star Mark, partnered with Karen, performed this barefoot Rumba in the Series 12 Semi-final. It is the only dance on this list that was performed at a point later than Week 6 of a Series.

Len thought it was a good effort, but felt there needed to be more recognisable Rumba content in the routine. Bruno and Darcey both stated that it was a lovely contemporary dance, but not a Rumba. Craig though was clearly impressed, as this is one of only seven male celebrity Rumba routines that have received a nine from him.

Mark was to perform this routine again in the dance-off, and he and Karen eliminated Jake Wood and Janette in a split decision.

Anastacia & Brendan

• When: Series 14, Week 1 (2016)
• Score: Cha Cha Cha (28 points, 8,7,7,6)
• Dancing to: ‘Lady Marmalade’ by Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Lil’ Kim and P!nk

Singer-songwriter Anastacia’s first dance of Series 14 was this Cha Cha Cha, danced with Brendan. Bruno said that she ‘went wrong quite a few times’; however, Craig thought her box split was amazing and felt the routine was ‘absolute filth and bordering on indecency, which I loved!’

Of the nearly two thousand dances on Strictly that they both marked, this was the second, and last, occasion that Craig’s score was a full two marks higher than Bruno’s (the other occurring for Claire Sweeney and John in the first episode of Series 1).

Kaye Adams & Kai

• When: Series 20, Week 1 (2022)
• Score: Tango (21 points, 6,5,5,5)
• Dancing to: ‘Voulez-Vous’ by ABBA

The next instance of Craig being the most generous member of the panel came six years later. As had happened with Claire, Gabby and Anastacia the recipient was a female celebrity who was performing their first routine of the series.

Motsi thought the nerves took over, and Shirley felt there were ‘way too many mistakes’. Kaye cowered behind her partner as Craig was about to wrap up the judges feedback, and he shocked everyone by saying while he was expecting this to be absolutely dreadful, ‘I can tell you I really, really liked it’.

Angela Rippon & Kai

• When: Series 21, Week 6 (2023)
• Score: Charleston (33 points, 9,8,8,8)
• Dancing to: Murder She Wrote (TV Theme)

With this routine, Kai became the first professional dancer to be the beneficiary of unexpectedly high scoring from Craig in consecutive years. Our longest serving judge certainly enjoyed this Halloween treat, issuing feedback that was short and to the point, ‘that my dear was a swivel masterclass’.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons